Method and apparatus for making and treating artificial fibers



Feb. 15, 1938. H. c. FoRREsT 2,108,285

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND TREATING ARTIFICIAL-FIBERS Filed Feb. 20,1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Feb. 1,5, 1938.

Filed Feb. .20, 1955 I NVENTOR BYM/wv?, C, Fon/Lu? l www ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND TREATING ARTIFIIAL FIBERS 2 Sheets--SheefI 2 Patented Feb. 15,1938

Prem osier:

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKIN AND TREATING ARTIFICIAL FmERS Henry C. Forrest, Merchantville, N. J. Application February 2e, 1935, serial No. 7,326

Claims.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for making and treating artificial fiber, and aims to provide a continuous process for this purpose and a compact apparatus for carrying out the 5 process.

The manufacture of artificial flber, such as rayon fiber, is practiced by a number of different processes, all of which involve successive treatments of the fiber in a number of different liquids after the fiber has been formed by the extrusion from a spinneret. In commercial manufacture, Kthese treatments have heretofore been effected by twisting the fiber into thread, forming the thread into skeins, and then immersing separate skeins successively into tanks containing the various treating liquids.

My invention eiects a great saving in the manufacture of such fiber by providing for passing a continuous, constantly moved fiber into and out of each of a series of separate tanks, so that each portion of the fiber is successively immersed in the/various treating liquids while the ber is in a continuous form.

An important feature of the invention consists in forming a continuous traveling fiber into a series of continuously Winding and unwinding coils, each ,of which is located partially in a separate tank. By this means, each portion of the ber is repeatedly immersed in the liquid in each tank around the coil which the fiber forms inthat tank.

A further feature of the invention consists in bringing together the fibers extruded .from a number of Vvseparate spinnerets into a single, conthrough each of a series of separate tanks. The lack of twist inthe rope of fibers and the spreading out of the rope into a fiat band subjects each fiber to the effect of the liquids much more quick- 1y and effectively than is the case with fibers which have been twisted together to form thread.

By forming a continuous and continuously `moved untwisted rope of fibers into a series of constantly winding and unwinding coils located in separate tanks, I provide for the treatment of a largel quantity of ber in a small space.

The apparatus which I have invented for carrying out this method includes a series of tanks and a pair of rollers in each tank which are arranged to form the rope of fibers into continuously, winding and unwinding coils in each tank, and to guide the ywinding-ofi end of the coil in each tank into the winding-on end of the co'il in the next tank.

In order that my invention may clearly be understood, I will describe it in detail in connecand repeatedly withdrawn therefrom as it travels tinuous, untwisted rope or band which is passed tion with the specific embodiment of the apparatus features of the invention which is shown in the accompanying'drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the right-hand wall of the tanks removed and the driving belts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the apparatus taken on the llneof 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the apparatus; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of the spinneret manifold, Fig. 5 being a face view, and Fig.

"6 a diametrical section.

For thesake of illustration, I will describe the invention -in connection with the cupro-ammonium process, although it will be understood that the main features of the invention are independent of the particular chemical treatment to which the cellulose is subjected before and after extrusion into fiber.

The apparatus illustrated includes a series of tanks i0, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60. The first tank il] contains the precipitating bath, while the other tanks contain the various treating baths. Forv practicing the cupro-ammonium process, the tank I contains a caustic soda solution, the tanks 20 and 3i) contain acid, the tanks 40 and 50 contain Wash water, and the tank 00 contains the soap solution.

Copper ammonia cellulose solution from a source not shown is forced by a gear pump il through a pipe l2 extending into the tank Il), and extruded through a large number of spinnerets I3 mounted in a manifold i4 attached to the en'd of the pipe i2 and directed upwardly. The spinnerets I3 lie in -a common plane and are spaced apart, so that the liquid in the tank lI0 has free, access to the group of filaments extruded from each of them. The `spinnerets may be of the usual form, each being adapted to extrude a multiplicity of (for. example 500) filaments. In the form shown, the manifold contains 12 spinnerets, so that 6,000 filaments may be extruded simultaneously in the tank l0. v The filaments are gathered together into a single bunch or rope of several thousand denier and passed over an open above the tank I0.

The tank 20 is provided with a pair of rollers. The lower roller 2| is journaled in the tank near its bottom. The upper roller 22 has an axle 23 which is journaled at the top of the tank 20, so that the upper roller is located above the level of the liquid in the tank with its upper side above the Walls of the tank.

The axes oi' the upper and lower rollers 22 and 2|' are inclined at a small angle to one another. In the i'orm shown, the axis of the upper roller is parallel to the front and rear edges of the tank, while the axis of the lower roller is so inclined that its right-hand end lies nearer the front end of the tank than does its left-hand end, as

clearly shown in Figs. l and 4.

The untwisted rope of laments which has been passed over the eye i5 is looped around the upper and lower rollers 22 and 2| in the form oi.' a at coil, as shown in Fig. 2. Once this coil hasv been formed, it maintains its form, the rope continually winding upon the upper roller near its Iright-hand end and continuallywindlng off the upper roller near its left-hand end, as indi-I cated by the dotted line in Fig. 4. The inclination of the axes of the two rollers causes the progressive advance of the turns of the coil along the two rollers, so that no means for guiding the separate turns is needed. Guiding means 28 may be provided for convenience in the threading operation later described. Ther-ope of filaments is spread out in a fiat' band as it passes over the rollers. Each reach of the moving coil between the rollers is free, that is, it is not in contact with any support or guide, and each free reach moves directly upward through and out of the liquid in the tank 4or downward into and through the liquid in the tank. This causes a repeated and very eiective treatment of each section of the rope by the liquid, and also serves to cause acirculation or stirring of the liquid in the tank. The effect is similar to that obtained by dipping a skein in a tank of liquid and moving it up and down in the tank. This has been found a very eiective way of treating yarn with -liquid, but .it is not as effective as the moving coil which has been described, since the yarn in a skein is usually twisted, while, in the moving coil provided between the two rollers of my apparatus, the rope of filaments is untwisted and is spread out in a ilat band, so that each lament is fully exposed to the liquid.

The tanks 30, 40, 50 and 60 each contain pairs of rollers similar to those of the tank 20, except that the axes of the lower rollers of successive tanks are inclined in opposite directions, so that,

while the band advances progressively from right to left in the tank 20, it advances from ,left to right along the rollers in the tank 30 and from right to left in the tank 40, etc., as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. This permits leading the band from the winding-off end off each coil into the winding-on end of the succeeding coil in straight reaches between the upper rollers and above the upper edges of the tanks.

On the rear wall of the last tank 60 is mounted a pair of squeeze rolls 6B. Beyond this tank is a pair of drying drums 1|, 12, whose axes are inclined in the same .manner as those with the rollers 2|, 22. 'I'he drums are internally heated by steam which is brought in through their axles.

The band of filaments unwinding froml the left-hand end of the upper roller 62 in the last tank passes between the squeeze rolls 6B and then around the heated drums 1|, 12, progressing from left to right along these ing and unwinding coil.

The band unwinding from the right-hand end of the drum 1| consists of filaments which have been completely treated and dried so that they are ready for use for many diierent purposes. The band may be led from the drum 1| to any sort of winding or packaging device.

drums to form a wind- In order that the band of laments may be` pulleys on the axles of the rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. With this interconnection, it is immaterial where the driving power is applied. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the power is applied to a pulley wheel I8 on the axle oi' the gear pump Il, while another pulley i1 on this axle is connected by'a belt to a pulley on the axle of the iirst upper tank roller 22. The lower tank rollers 2| to 6| may be driven in the same way as the upper rollers, but, in order to avoid the use of stuiling boxes which would be required if their axles lwere extended through the walls of the tanks, I prefer to drive each lower roller from the corresponding upper roller by means of a belt 24 passing around the rollers near their ends and lying within the tank.

It will be seen that the driving arrangement is `I such that every roller with which the band of pump and the rollers', as, for example, by chang-v ing the size of the pulley l1.

A circulation oi' liquid through each tank is maintained in order to keep the composition of the liquid in each tank approximately constant'. A counter-current circulation is preferably maintained through thetwo acid tanks 20, $0, and through the two wash tanks l0, 50.

In placing the machine in operation, a cord is first led or threaded through the machine in the path which the illaments are to follow. 'I'he extruded illaments, after being passed through the eye I5, are then secured to the rear end of the cord so that the band of filaments follows the cord through the winding and unwinding coils to the end of the machine. 'I'he machine will then operate continuously without attention vso long as a cellulose solution is supplied to the gear pump. The machine has a large capacity and is extremely compact. It produces finished cupro-ammonium iilaments at the rate of 500 lbs. a day and occupies tloor space not over 3 x 30 ft.

What I claim is:

1. The method of manufacturing artificial ber,

several thousand denier and feeding the band continuously through a plurality oi' successive continuously winding' and unwinding flat coils,- each associated with a separate body of treating liquid, each coil having a multiplicity of free descending and ascending reaches extending into and out of the body of treating liquid associated with that coil. f

2. The method of manufacturing cupro-ammonium ber, which comprises extruding a copper ammonia cellulose solution in more than a thousand lillaments in a caustic soda bath, collecting said filaments into an untwisted rope and feeding the rope continuously through a plurality loi successive continuously winding and unwinding fiat coils, which are associatedl with separated acid, water, and softening agent baths, each coil having a multiplicity of free descending and ascending reaches extending into and out ofthe bath associated with that coil. v

' 3. In the manufacture of artificial ber, the steps of forming a multiplicity of simultaneously extruded filaments into an untwisted rope, and thereafter feeding said rope through a spiral path having a multiplicity of turns, each of which extends downward into an open body of treating liquid, downward and then upward within the` body of liquid, and vertically. upward out of the liquid, while supporting said rope only at points spaced above and below the surface of the liquid.

' 4. In the manufacture of artificial ber, the

steps of forming a multiplicity of simultaneously extruded filaments into an untwisted rope, and then feeding said rope through a spiral path having a multiplicity, of turns,.each of which has a curved portion located a' substantial distance -above 'the surface of a body of treatingliquid,

a curved portion in said body of liquid'below its surface, and two straight ver-tical portions' extending through the surface of said body of liquid.

5. In the manufacture of artificial fiber, the steps of forming a multiplicity of simultaneously extruded filaments into an untwisted rope, and then feeding said rope through a spiral path having a multiplicity of turns, each of which has a curved portion located a substantial distance above the surface of a body of treating liquid, a

curved portion in said body of liquid below its surface, and two straight vertical portions extending through the surface of said body of liquid, and

forming said rope into a fiat band in the curved portions of -each turn while leaving it unrestrained in the straight portions thereof.

6. The method of manufacturing artificial fiber, which comprises collecting more than a thousand simultaneously extruded filaments into an untwisted rope, and feeding said rope through aplurality of successive continuously winding and unwinding atcoils, each of which has a multiplicity 'of free ascending and descending reaches, and maintaining separate bodies of treating liquids in contact with the lower portions of said coils with their surfaces between the upper and lower ends of said free reaches.

7. In an apparatus for manufacturing artificial fibers, a device for extruding a multiplicity of filaments, means for collecting the iilaments 'into an untwisted rope, a tank, a pair of vertically spaced rollers in said tank, means for causing said rope to spiral about said rollers to form a multiplicity of vertical reaches between the rollers, and means for maintaining a liquid in said tank with its surface at a level between the uppervand lower ends of said vertical reaches.

8.,In `apparatus for manufacturing artificial ber, a device for extruding a multiplicity of filaments, means for collecting the filaments into an ,untwisted rope, a tank, a pair of vertically spaced rollers in said tank, means for causing said rope to spiral about saidrollers to form a multiplicity ofvertical reaches between the rollers, the

" HENRY o. FoRREsT. 

